Outboard motor for boats



v Jan. 20, 1931. I P. E. PHILLIPS 3 V OUTBOARD MOTOR FOR BOATS Filed Nov. 8. 1929 Price-E. Phi/[1901s.

Patented Jan. 20, 1931 UNITED STATES PRICE. EUGENE PHILLIPS, or Ev NsvILLn, INDIANA OUTBOARD MOTOR FOR BOATS Application filed l Iovember s, 1929. Serial No. 405,694.

The object of the present invention is to provide a light, portable, electric outboard motor having a propeller and embodying an improved mountingand construction which 5 can be quickly and easily attached to the stern of a small boat,and operated by an electric storage battery carried by the boat, for the purpose of propelling the boat at slow speed in quiet water.

The invention embodies an electric motor having a-novel mounting permitting themofor to be tilted only ina substantially vertical plane, means for detachably connecting the motor to the stern of a small boat, in such manner that the motor will be securely held against sidewise tilting, and an improved arrangement of frame, preferably provided with a rudder, a tube, a rigid or flexible shaft extending through the tube and driven by the motor, a propeller carried by the shaft, a guard for the propeller, and means, such as a grip or handle, whereby the motor, the frame, and the shaft, propeller and other parts may be readily rocked upwardly or downwardly to submerge the propeller or to elevate it clear of the surface of the water without, however, permitting side swinging of the appliance.

Preferably, an electric controlling switch is located on the motor, although said switch may be otherwise disposed; and, there is a reversing lever for reversing the motor.

The mounting for the motor is of an improved ball-and-socket, frictional, type,

Figure 1 is a side elevation, showing the outboard motor applied to a small boat, the latter being broken away to disclose the battery; 7

Fig. 2 is a part side and part sectional elevation of the appliance.

An electric motor 1 serves as the power whereby the motor is held in the position to' for the propeller 2 and is included in an electric circuit 3 which? derives its current from; a storage battery 4-.', a suitableelectric switch 5 being'included in circuit 3 for controlling'motor 1. a s11;

Extending outwardly from the motoris a frame 6 which carries a fin 7 that serves as a rudder. The frame carries aguard 8 for the propeller 2, the guard preventing the propeller from becoming fouled. 1 Extending through the framev is-a tube: 9- through which the propeller shaft" 10 extends, the propeller 2 being fastenedonthe shaft by any suitable means such asfa-nut 11. Thes-haft-lO passes through a packingnut 05 or gland 12. to prevent water fromhaving access to the motor 1. i

The frame 6 is detachably connectedto the motor 1 at 1 3."by' boltsbut other means may be provided to enabletlie frame 6, tube 9, and the propeller shaft "10 to be detached fromthe motor. v v I A handle or pistol grip '14 which issuita ably attached to theframeo or motor 1, serves as a meansfor tilting the. motor, and with it, the propeller, the. frame, etc'., upwardly or downwardly-to disposethe propeller inthe water or above the surfacethereof.

The shaft 10 -may "be a rigid shaft or of the flexible type.

The complete outboard motor and propeller are supportedfin' a detachable fashion, from the boat 15 by a duplex bracket comprising I the members 16', 17 having screw clamps 18,

and-which areconnectedto a=common base19; through the medium of an 1 improved mounting which permits the motor,.tlie propeller,

andthe frame tobe tilted only upwardly; and downwardly, without, possibility of laterally shifting, and whereby the appliance is held in the position to which it is shifted;

The mounting for the motor comprises a pillar 20 which is provided with aball head. 21 at its upper end. A pin '22 projects upwardly from the ball head;

' Suitably attached to'the' shell ofmotor 1 is atubular casing 23provided at its upper part" with a xslot 24 and 'atits lower part with a slot 25., 'Theslots' 24 and 25 respectively receivethepin 22'and'the upper part of the pillar 20, enabling the motor to be tilted upwardly and downwardly only in a substantially vertical plane.

Contained within the tubular casing 23 are friction shoes 26, 27, having concaved or cupshaped faces which receive and bear against the ball head 21. An expansion coil spring 28 contained within the casing 23 and bearing against a removable screw plug 29 threaded into said casing, holds the shoe 26 against the ball head 21 and'the said head against the shoe 27, the latter engaging the end of the casing 23. The screw plug 29 can be taken out to disconnect the parts, when desired.

The pillar 20 is secured in any suitable manner to the base 19.

The battery 4 is shown as concealed under the stern seat of the boat 15 but it can be otherwise located. The switch 5 is shown as provided on the motor 1 but it can be located anywhere in the circuit 3; A reversing lever 30 is provided for the purpose of reversing the direction of rotation of shaft 10. For that purpose, any suitable reversing gears maybe employed within the motor, or other expedient resorted to to effectuate the purpose.

' The purpose of the special mounting for the motor, the frame, and the propeller is to enable the operator of the boat to raise and lower the propeller to place it in the water or dispose it abovethe water level, it being understood that the friction of the shoes 26, 27 on the ball head is such that the parts will remain in the position to which they are tilted. However,the provision of the pin 22 and pillar 20 in connection with the slots 24:, 25, permits the entiredevice to be shifted only upwardly and downwardly. The pistol-grip 14 constitutes a convenient means for manipulating the appliance.

By releasing the clamps 18, the appliance can be immediately removed from its connection to the boat.

What I claim is a 1. In an outboard motor for boats, a mounting for the motor comprising means for the attachment thereof to a boat, a frictional ball-and-socket joint connecting said means to the motor, comprising a casing carried by the motor, a pillar having a ball head re ceived within said casing, a'pin-and-slot connection between the ball head and the casing anda frictional shoe within the casing which bears against the ball head,said pillar being supported by the means for connecting the motor to the boat.

2. In an outboard motor for boats, a mounting for the motor embodying means for the attachment thereof to a boat, a frictional ball-and-socket joint connecting said means to the motor, comprising a casing connected to the motor, concaved shoescontained within the casing, spring means cooperating with the shoes, a pillar supported by the means for connecting the motor to the boat and having a. ball head received within the casing and frictionally engaged by said shoes and a pin-and-slot connection between the ball head and the casing.

3. In an outboard motor for boats,amounting for the motor embodying means for the attachment thereof to a boat, a frictional ball-and-socket joint connecting said. means to the motor,.comprising aicasing secured to and a propeller carried by the frame and driven by the motor, whereby the mounting for the motor permits the propeller to be submerged or raised out of the water.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

'PRICE EUGENE PHILLIPS. 

